One True Thing by Marilyn Pappano is a fabulous read.  Ms. Pappano has given us a book that is well-written.  Jace and Cassidy's story is packed with drama, suspense, action, humor, spice and amazing, lovable characters.  This book hooked me on the first page and held me hostage till the last page.  I enjoyed reading One True Thing and look forward to my next Marilyn Pappano book.  One True Thing is book 6 in the Heartbreak Canyon Series but can be read as a standalone.  This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.

I read a print copy of this book.

Somebody's Hero by Marilyn Pappano is an entertaining read.  Ms. Pappano has delivered a well-written book, a nice smooth read.  Jayne and Tyler's story is packed with drama, humor, sizzle and fantastic, lovable characters.  Totally loved the characters in this story!  I enjoyed reading Somebody's Hero and look forward to my next book by Marilyn Pappano.  This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.

I read a print copy of this book.

Carly Lowry had lost her husband to the war in Afghanistan and she cannot imagine letting any other man close enough to break her heart. The only company and solace she needs, she gets from her fellow Army widows. Then Dane Clark walks into her life, and maybe Fate is offering Carly another chance of being happy and getting the best of life.


I came to know the little town of Taallgrass, Oklahoma in the short story A Family for Christmas. I liked Ilena, the Army widow determined to continue with her life, even after losing her husband, so I expected all the members of the Tuesday Night Margarita Club (all Army widows) to be just like Ilena. Sure, they've lost the men they loved, but they weren't afraid of living their life after their husband's death.

Unfortunately, this story proved me wrong with its prologue in which Carly was so far removed from a human being accepting her Fate (a whole year after her husband's death, mind you), it made me queasy. She improved quite a lot throughout the story, but there were always moments that made me roll my eyes...Like her refusal to pack her husband's stuff two years later, stubbornly wearing his favorite perfume, even though she didn't really like it, refusal to make any changes to the house...Until she met her hero.
Who was even worse with his pity party about his lost leg. At least you're alive, you ass!

Yes, maybe this review is making me appear heartless or at least cold-hearted, and yes, I understand people grieve in different ways, but did we really have to be saddled with an unable unwilling-to-move-on heroine and a self-pitying hero with body-image issues?

They got on my nerves so much (him more and more as the story progressed, while she improved) that I couldn't have been bothered to enjoy their "romance". Which felt rushed at least judging from the ending. They worked better as friends, IMO.

There were other problems with the story that cannot be overlooked: the two side-plots involving one of Carly's friends who should've killed her spoiled, self-centered bitch of a stepdaughter and buried her in their backyard instead of turning her other cheek as the good book teaches, the rancher, who lost his wife because she couldn't live without her legs (talk about selfish), that had a one-night stand with another of Carly's friends (I don't know why, I guess it will serve as background for their book), and the whole praying, churchgoing, bible-reading-in-the-evening shtick. At first it pissed me off at the publisher for not warning unsuspecting readers, but then I just skipped those parts.

I liked the premise, and it had its brighter moments (when the heroine wasn't bemoaning her lost husband and the hero forgot about not having a leg), but overall it was quite a disappointment.

After twenty-four years of radio silence, Martine Broussard once more sees Pauline, one of the four friends who'd abandoned their home town after a night gone awry. That same night Pauline is killed, her heart removed. The primary detectives on the case are Jack Murphy and his partner James "Jimmy" DiBiase, the man Martine loathes most.

But it's that same man who brings her comfort, offers his shoulder for her to lean and cry on, and vows to keep her safe no matter what, especially after they learn one other friend out of the four had ended up like Pauline.



I loved this one. As it happened with her short story A Family for Christmas, this one also had a mature, adult feel. There was no juvenile behavior (unless you count the hero's nonchalant, womanizing mask—which the heroine learns is really just a façade), the "misunderstanding" (if you want to call it that) was put to rest without much ado, the two communicated...The hero and heroine actually acted like adults, appropriate to their age.
And their romance was a real treat to behold. It progressed slowly, realistically, and as they got to know one another (well, as Martine got to know the depths of Jimmy's character) so the reader got to know them, root for them, and wish them the best.

The second big thumbs-up goes to the suspense angle of the plot. The mystery was intriguing, the red-herrings perfectly placed to keep the reader guessing and playing detective...The final reveal was quite a surprise, yet the motive was a bit of a let-down. I expected more than just a crazy person's crazy motivation.
Speaking of let-downs...The heroine's dipping her toes into the TSTL ocean was the second blemish on this otherwise great story.

This book has a reputation, which was actually why I got it - rubbernecking, reader style. :D

Basic plot - H keeps h hidden and thus safe, from ex con who has issues with the fact she put him away for 5 years.

Obstacle - H/h were item 9 years previously when a disagreement about what constitutes justice had him leaving her bleeding on the courthouse steps. As betrayals go, that's a doozy, and while I can understand the concept of forgiveness, trust is something else, and the feeling that when the going gets tough, the pseudo-alpha is going to be hightailing it out of there to save face...eh...no. Ahm thinking acquaintances with benefits at best.

The h...well, I think at some point a few self-defense lessons, etc., would have been in order. Also, when someone is trying to kill you, wanting to go out in public is rather dumb. Granted, she did have reservations about going to a nearby city for a movie but...

The H...I get the feeling he likes to think of himself as an alpha, but really, he gave up his alpha card when he left town rather than check on his girlfriend because he was offended at her having issues with dirty cops. Did he necessarily belong in jail himself? Eh...not really. That said, just how blind can you be? How many excuses can you make?